A case of malnutrition in a child is hardly considered rare today. This condition is accompanied by chronic eating disorders, in which the baby's weight is behind the norm by more than 10%. Hypotrophy can be both intrauterine and develop after the birth of a child. So what are the causes and symptoms of this pathology?
Causes of intrauterine hypotrophy in a child
In some cases, malnutrition appears even during fetal development . Such a child is already born with noticeable symptoms - he weighs much less than the norm. Sick children are feeble with poorly developed body fat and flaky skin.
To begin with, it is worth noting that the nutrition of the mother plays a significant role in the development of the fetus, and it is worth taking into account not only the quantity, but also the quality of the food consumed. The diet of a pregnant woman should be diverse and contain the main groups of nutrients.
On the other hand, malnutrition may also be associated with metabolic disorders in the placenta. Risk factors include poor blood circulation, early aging of the placenta, as well as late severe toxicosis. Sometimes the reasons lie in adverse environmental conditions. The risk of developing malnutrition increases with constant stress.
Causes of malnutrition in a child after birth
Often children are born completely healthy, but in the next few weeks you can notice a sharp weight loss. Quite often, malnutrition in infants is associated with malnutrition. For example, a deficiency of subcutaneous tissue is sometimes the result of too low a quantity of breast milk (or artificial formula). Do not forget that a nursing mother should also eat properly, since the quality and satiety of milk depends on this.
On the other hand, a cause of malnutrition may be an upset digestive system. Intestinal infections, dysbiosis and some other diseases are often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea, which, accordingly, creates a lack of nutrients. Risk factors include damage to the nervous system or heart muscle, as well as injuries or congenital anatomical abnormalities in the structure of the oral cavity, as this prevents the child from eating normally.
Symptoms and forms of malnutrition in a child
Of course, the signs of this pathology directly depend on its severity.
- Grade 1 hypotrophy in children is accompanied by a lag in the weight gain of about 10-15%. The amount of subcutaneous fat decreases mainly on the hips and abdomen.
- The second degree of malnutrition is characterized by a decrease in the layer of subcutaneous fat, not only on the body, but also on the limbs. The mass delay in this case is 15–30%.
- If the baby's body weight is more than 30% below normal, then doctors are talking about a third, severe degree of malnutrition. The fat layer disappears on the body, limbs and face.
Treatment of malnutrition in children
Of course, this condition requires medical attention. First of all, the doctor must determine what is the cause of such an eating disorder. Drug treatment is necessary in cases where hypotrophy is the result of certain malformations, infectious or chronic diseases. If the reasons lie in insufficient nutrition, then you need to adjust the diet of the baby or nursing mother. But the diet should be compiled individually by the attending physician - an additional amount of food should be introduced gradually. An additional intake of mineral-vitamin complexes, walks in the fresh air, as well as regular therapeutic exercises will positively affect the condition of the child.